Folding chair.



I. F. WILMOT.

FOLDING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, I916.

1,242,406. I Y Patented 0011.9,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. F. WILMOT.

FUtDlNG CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.26, 1916.-

1 42,406 v Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED srnrns JOHN r. win/Loner mmseowmmw YortKn romaine GHAI R Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Oct. 9,1917.

Applicatien filed m 2c, 1916. Serial m. 80,728

To all whom it may concern: p I

Be it known that I, JOHN F. ,WILMOT, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have in vented certam new 'and useful Improve,

ments in Folding Chairs, of whichthe fol:

lowing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification. V

The invention relates to folding or'disap pear-ing chairs andpartlcularly for use} 111 automobiles and the objectof the improvement is to provide a chair. construction .into the folded positionwithout raisingthe seat portion, the back and seat portions also having connective mechanism whereby they are balanced in relation to one another by thejweight of the occupant, to provide an automatic reclining back; and the invention consists inthe novel; features and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

,In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective sectional view of thechair in the folded 'position in a box in the floor of the'car andforming a portion ofsaid floor. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe set up chairlshow ing the balancing mechanism for thereclining seat and backp Fig. 3. s a crosswise sectional view of the seat portion .inthe "set up position showing the lower portion of the back, the upper portion being broken away. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the 1 joint between the back and the extension. of'the lower corner of said back at each side whereby said back connects with the seat at each side with toggle joints; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of said joint showing the stop or limit for the reclining movement of the back. Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of'one of the top links connecting the seat portion tothe supporting frame or pan. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the chair partially opened or set up, the different steps to the set-up position being shown in dotted line illustrating how the seat portion of the chair must be raised in order to set up the same and showing the construction and arrangement of the different parts. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the floor box or pan for the folding chair and a front" elevation of terials for the seat.

chair in. the set up position. ig. 1s a sectlonal vlew at line 99 in Fig. 8

A -EM We 1 showing the locking relation of the links and the .seat portion to the uprightsupporting pan or frame. Fig. 10 is a sectional viewof the floor frame showing the spring catchfor holding the chair injthe set up position. I i I Like numerals of reference refer 'to Corresponding parts in the several views. U

.Thenumera'l 1O designates the box' or fpit intlie floor of. the bodyinto which the chair. folds.

ing portionll, a seat portion 12 and a back portion 19' which portions are hingingly con nected to one anotherand are constructed in the following manner: The supporting portlon consists of a 'pan'or frame 11 of the desired height which fits and is pivo-tally attached within the box or pit 10. The bottom of the pan 11 forms the closure of said p1t or.box.10 when inthe folded position having a carpet or covering thereon corresponding to the carpetorcovering of the re mainder of the floor of the car so that when folded it forms a continuation of said coveringonly showing the outline of theshape of thepan ll and pit l0.

The seat portion 12 consists of two seat The folding cliair tconsists of a support.

supporting bars 26, one at each side, which v are sufficiently strongto uphold the weight ofvthe occupant of the chair as said support ing bars 26 draw across the top of thesupporting frame or pan 11. A seat pan 12is provided which has angular sides 32 which normally rest upon the support bars 26.

Theseat pan l2 is preferably made with the angular flanged sides 32 which llifl'e the wooden angle strips 33 fitting over the same for the attachment of the upholstering ma- The front end of the pan12' isclosed by a wooden cross bar 34 which has a lengthwise groove 35 therein within which a cross rod 86 is placed which I extends across the front of the seat pan 12 I and through the sides thereof for the pivotal attachment of the front end of the seat pan 12 so that it may be raised and lowered at its rear end, hinging from the front end of said seat. The .rearend of the pan 12 pairs of links 13 and 14:, the pair of links 13 being attached about midway of the length of-the pan at 13 on each side so as to fold within said pan Saidlinks 13 are pivotally attached to the ends of the seat suppor-tbars 26 which ends are the front ends of said support bars 26 when in the set up position, so that saidlinks 13 stand vertically when in said set'up position, being shaped to gradually widen from their lower ends toward-their upper ends so that they i brace against the bottomof the pan'11 and hold thefront ends of the seatsupport bars 26 n'rmly in position as said bars rest across the upper'end of the pan 11 in said set up l osition.-- I 5 I The pair of links 1 1 one at each side are L-shaped' each having "the angular projection 15 at one end which is pivotally attached to projecting lugs 16 on-the upper end of the pan 11 so that when said links .14, are turned over into the set up position and rest upon the upper flangedend of the pan 11, the projections 15 extend downward to the point 17 of pivotal attachment for each link 14- to each :lug 16 and draws firmly across the upper end of the pan 1-1. The

opposite ends of the links 14 are attached at 18 about midway of the length of "thesup-.

portbars 26, that is, the point 18 is the point-to which the links 11 would normally ext-end along the bars 26 when pivotally attached to the-lug 16 on the pan lVith the chair in the set up position the front ends of the seat support bars 26 are pirotally attached on the ends of the cross rod 36 as said ends extend through the sides 7 of the seat pan l2, and the upper ends ofthe links 13 are also pivotally attached on said ends of said rod 36, thereby hinging said seat pan 12 at its front endto the seat support bars26gand also to the links 13.

It isnow apparent that with the double link connection 13 between the sides of the v 1 said links 25 are pivotally attached to thepan 11 and each side of the front end of the eat pan 12-; also with the double link connection 11 between the lugs 16 at'each side of the top of the pan 11 andthe middle points 18 0f the seat supporting bars 26; the seat'portion 12, consisting of ,the seat'12 and'supporting side bars 26, may be swung outwardly from within the pan. 11, as shown in Fig. 7, and then raised over the upper end of the pan 11, the double links 13 and 11 guiding said seat portion 12 in its turning movement until it rests upon the top bars 26."

The back 19 is hinged between the two upwardly projecting rear 'ends 20 ofthe seat support'bars 26 so as to fold over the seat pan l2"whfen in the folded position. It is obvious that the seat support bars 26 may be permanently attached to the angular flanged sides 32 ofthe .seat panand form a good folding chair. Itis preferred, however, to hinge the back 19to the seat portion 12 by means of double toggle'links so that the rear portion of the seat pan 12"may be'raised andlowered as desiredby the occupant of the seat thereby giving thechair a reclining backwhen desired. l I

' In the reclining back construction, a bal ancing adjustment of the seat pan 12and the back 19' in relation to one another is attained by means of the angular back extensions 21 which. are apart of the back portion 19 and secured thereto by means of the pair of double downward projecting lugs 22 one to each. side which are attached to the upwardlyprojecting ends of the back extensions21 by means of suitablepins, thereby forming'a hinged joint between each back extension 21fand' the back 19 permitting said back to fold over at said hinged joint but having a shoulder 23on the back 19 which engages a similar shoulder 24 on the rear SlClQ'Of the back extension 21 so that a lHIllted hinging movement is-provided between the back 19 and the back extensions 21 at each side when it is desired to move said back 19 into thereclining position. Each of the seat supporting bars 26 has a h1g2? thereon which extends out ,over the down wardly and forwardly projecting extension 21 of "the back 19, which lug 27 limits the upward movement of the rear'portion of the seat 12 and the rearward movementof the back. A short link 25' is pivotallyattached to each of the front ends of the two backe'xl tensions at one end. and the other ends' of sides of the seat pan 12. It is now apparent that with thepivotal attachment of the seat pan 12 ,on the rod 36 betwee'n'the front ends of the seat support bars 26 on the links 13 and also the pivotal attachment of the seat pan 12 tothe double" links 25 a'spaced distance from the rear end of'the seat pan 12" and to the back extenija ra-io seat-"may have any angle of inclination for therccliningback 19 which is desired up to the limitation of-movement of said back by the shoulders 23 and 2 1and the lug or st op27.

The lower end of the pan 11 is pivotally attached to the pan or frame in the car floor by means of metal plates 28 attachedto each side. and 'extending within the frame lower end of the" pan 11 at eachside, which Y spring' .catches may be manually Withdrawn when it is desired to fold the chair into the frame 10. e i v v i The operation of the .chair is exceedingly simple. A. loop 38 is preferably attached to V V the rear edge of the center of the seat12' for raising or setting up thechair by means of which loop 38 the folded chair is first raised to the vertical position for the pan 11. Theseat pan 12 and back 19 are then swung outwardly as shown in Fig. 7 fromthe pan 11, one hand being placed on the pan 11 to steady the same; the pan 12 with the back 19 isthen swung ,out andover the upper end of the pan 11,,being guided; by the links 13 and 1 1 in the movement of said pan 12 over the upper end ofthe pan 11 until said pan 12 rests upon said upper end of the pan. 11 as hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings. The back 19is thenraised. and

the seat is ready for occupancy. Ifspring catches 30 are used they are preferably automatic, in their action in setting up the chair and only need to be manually withdrawn in order to fold the same.

It is apparent that the two seat supporting bars 26 which arepivotally attached to the cross rod 36 on eachside of the seat pan 12 at one end and to each side of the lower end of the back 19 at the otherforms a chair frame of great strength which gives added rigidity to the entire structure. Changes might be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the chair without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, as hereinbefore stated, the seat pan 12 might be permanently attached to the supporting bars or frame 26 and the eX- tensions 21 on the lower end of the back with the links 25 might be omitted, or said back extensions and toggle link connection might be used with other forms of seat supporting frame. I accordingly do not limit myself to the.particullar fdrm or arrangement shown;

I cla m as new 1;, A folding chairfcomprising itwo pans,

' links pivotally connecting; said pans to one another to fold one within the otherjin' the folded position and] lock jone "across the up per end of the other, in the set n p-position to thereby form a seat, means"for support: ing the upright "pan in" the st up'; position,

and a back hinged to said seatpam r 2 A: folding chairfeomprising a'jseatpon tion, a support portion for said seat, ap air of links pivotally attached at: onee'nfd to an fend of said seat and at the other end intermediate 'of the ends of said supports, and

a se'cond pair of links pivotally attached at one end to an end of said supportand at -the other end intermediateof thejends of said seat portion to foldably attach 'saidfseat; p o'r tionto said support'portiorig 3. A folding chair compr'isingfaseat portion, a support" portion for seatihay'ing pivotal attachment to a support at on e d and sidewise"eXtendiiiglugs on the opposite end, a pair of links pivotally attachedat one end about midway ofthe length 'ofthe sides of said support portion and to an end of said seat at the other, and a "second pair of links with ,L-shaped ends pivotally at tached to said lugs on said support portion and the other end pivotally attached about midway of the length of said seat portionto lockingly draw over'the upper end of, said 7 support, portion in the set up position.

q 5. In .a 'foldingoh swingingguide member connecting the forward end of the seat member with the sup port, said seat member being arranged to fold over the upper end.v of'the support into operative position. U i

V 6. A folding chair'comprising aseat pan, supporting side bars for said seat pan, a support pan for said supporting side bars and seat pan, a pair of links pivotally attached about midway of the sides of said support pan at one end andto the front end of said seat pan and side bars at the other end, lugs on the upper end of said support pan one to each side, a second pair of links having angular ends pivotally attached to said lugsone to each lug and the other ends pivotally attached about midway of the length of said seat support bars to cause said links and seat pan to lockingly bind across the I ir, the combinationa support,.a seat member; and a forwardly,

. 10'0 1 A folding chair, comprising a support? ally connecting saidmembers and adapted upperlend of said support. panin the set up position, and a back hinged to saidseatsupport bars and seat. 7, A foldingchaircomprising asupporting membe'rfa seatfme mher, and. members arranger in pairs pivotally connecting, said supporting and seat members to guide said 'seatfmemberin" its movement toand from apositionat one sideofsaid supporting menibliilto and "from a position upofi the uppr endjthereof,

8. A foldingfchair comprising a supporting member; seat member, links pivotaily connecting said members and adapted; to guide said seat member into operative posi tion upon'thenpper end of said supporting member from a folded-position Within s aid supportingmember.

' 9. folding chair comprisinga supportingmembefia sea-t member, and links pivotto guide said seat member into operative position at right. angles to said supporting member upon the upper end thereof from a position parallel therewith and'at onei s ide 'there'of {I andadapted to interlock over the upper end of thesupporting member When the' seat 10. "In a folding chair, the combination of a supporting member, a seat member, and

parallel swinging members pivotally 0on nectingthe supporting and seat members member is in operative position.

' 11.1111 a folding chair, the Combination ofa supporting"member, a seat member; and

I a pair of swinging members pivotally' con" necting said supportinghnd seat members and adapted to swing over and rest upon the" upper end of the supporting member when the seat member is moved to opera:

' tive' position."

"12. In a; folding chair, the combination of a supporting member, a seat member,"and a pair of members pivotally' connected to said supporting member intermediate its ends at "one end and the said seat 'm'emb er adjacent the forward end thereof attheir oPDOsite ehdse said P of members being adapted to 'swing against said supporting member When the seat member 1s moved to'o'peratlve 'POSltlOTl.

13. In a folding chair, the combination o e irr e at member a d a win in guidemember pi otally attached! at) one end to theseat member adjacent]th e :v edge"t11ereof,"said seat member "being ar; ranged, to fold over the v upper. end '0 the support when operative position 'tyith said. guide member, lying: adjacent the forf Wardfs'ide ofgsaidsup ore i "14 In afolding chair, the combination of a support, a' seat member, and? a if guide. "i'i oembersv pivota'ily "attached one end to said support and at their opposite ends to said seat member intermediate the ends thereof, and a pivotedguid'e member pivotaily attached to said seat inemberfadljac'ent the forward edge thereof? Ina folding chair}; the' confibination of a pi ot-ed support adapted. to siyiing' to an uprightpositiomiaj seat inember, and parallel guide in'emibers' pivotally' attached at one end to theforward side of said sup portfand at their opposite end sto said member, said seat mihttfi hd certain (if said guide members being arranged to' swi over and engage the upper end of said 'sup port WIen theseat member ismoved to operatire "position and the other of sai d guide members being" arranged tolie' act, jacent the iori vardfside of saidsupportwhen said' seat member is inoperative position.

'16, In a folding chair,the combination of a support; a seat member, and a pair of swinging guide mcmber s'piimtaHy attached at one endlt-o' the seat member adjacentthe foru ard'edge thereof, andat: the otherfend to the support member intermediate its ends, said seat member beinlgia i ranged' to fold over the upper endoffthe support hen i'n operative position ith said guide member lying adjacent theiforiif'arjdsideof said port, and means connecting the upper end of the supportand the seat member to guide said seat member to and from" its operative position Intestimony whereof I. have afiixed my signature inth'e presence of tyvo Witnesses. JOHN F. Wi Mor-" Vitpesses:

*HJA. SANpBnRe,

CL, 05." Hurjcrenrnl" Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of iiatents,

Washington, D; 03 

